ATP Tour

Fognini announces retirement

Fabio Fognini announced his retirement on Wednesday at Wimbledon.

The Italian had previously revealed ahead of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Rome this May that he planned to retire in the next 12 months. However, he has decided to hang up his racquet earlier, following a five-set first-round loss to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon.

“Today is something official. I say goodbye to everybody," Fognini said during a press conference held in London. "It was the perfect way to say goodbye to this sport. I was able to play in an era that probably is going to be the best era forever in the sport. I played against Roger, against Rafa, against Nole. Winning a Slam for me was impossible. I have to be honest.

"My best dream was finishing next year in Monte-Carlo. The main goal was that one because I was able to win the tournament. I've grown up there. But that's it. It was not possible."

The Italian ended his career holding a 426-396 record according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. The 38-year-old climbed to a career-high No. 9 in the PIF ATP Rankings and won nine ATP Tour titles, including his lone ATP Masters 1000 triumph in Monte-Carlo in 2019.

"I'm happy the way I say goodbye to the professional tennis career," Fognini added on ending his career following his loss to Alcaraz. "I did my best. It is difficult now to say a lot of words. There is a lot of emotion in my mind."

Fognini earned 17 wins against Top 10 opponents in his career, highlighted by his five-set comeback win against Rafael Nadal at the US Open in 2015 and victory against then-World No. 1 Andy Murray in Rome in 2017.